Chris Philp hits out at 'two-tier' treatment of Dover and Portsmouth protests: 'It's part of our democracy!'

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Hundreds of Britons demonstrated on the south coast against the ongoing illegal migration crisis

Chris Philp has launched a scathing attack on critics of the protests in Dover and Portsmouth this weekend, declaring them "two-tier".

Speaking to GB News, the Shadow Home Secretary argued it is a "fundamental part of democracy" to have the right to protest "without repercussions".

On Saturday, masses of anti-migrant protesters brought Dover to a standstill, blocking roads to the port and causing four-mile queues of traffic.

The demonstrators, dressed in all black with black balaclavas, could be heard chanting "stop the boats" as they marched through the streets of Dover.

On Sunday, around 500 demonstrators are believed to have joined a protest in the Portsmouth area after a small boat containing asylum seekers arrived on the coast.

Discussing the two protests on the People's Channel, Mr Philp was asked by host Ellie Costello if he believes Britain is living in a "two-tier" society.

Agreeing with Ellie, Mr Philp said: "Yeah, I think there is a two-tier element. The criticism of the protests in Portsmouth and Dover – you don't hear from the left; you don't hear the same criticism if it's Extinction Rebellion or Just Stop Oil or the Gaza protest or that kind of thing.

"So I think there is an element of double standards. My own position is kind of consistent; I think protest is fundamentally part of our democracy, but it should always be lawful. So no violence, no serious disruption and so on."

Weighing in on whether the protesters should be allowed to wear face coverings including balaclavas, the Tory MP argued Britons should be able to protest "publicly without any fear of repercussions or intimidation".

He said: "I want to see a society where people can protest and express their political views, including views that say immigration should be far, far lower than it is today. By the way, I share that view.

"Including expressing the view that illegal immigration should be zero, and by the way, I share that view as well.

"People should be able to express those views publicly without any fear of repercussions or intimidation, or having people's employers causing them a problem."

Mr Philp made clear illegal immigration should be at "zero" and Britons who feel the same should be allowed to protest and express that view.

He said: "I want to see a society where you can express those views with no repercussions, so people don't even feel they need to cover their faces.

"I share those views, frankly, about immigration; it should be a lot lower. Illegal immigration should be zero.

"Anyone should be able to express those views publicly and freely without fear of intimidation. That's the kind of society I want to see us living in."

A Government spokesman said of the protest: "We condemn the intimidating and thuggish behaviour we are seeing tonight.

"The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder.

"We thank the emergency services who are working to safely manage this situation."

A Home Office spokesman said: "This Government is doing the hard and necessary work of bearing down on small boats crossings, with the lowest number of June to August arrivals since 2020."